Transmigrated as the Villain Boss's Precious Darling-Chapter 83: You Can’t Listen to Everything Adults Say

"We have some."

Gentry Chapman fetched another basket, feeling a little embarrassed. ’How can I let guests do work?’ But Adrian Hawthorne’s intimidating presence made him afraid to refuse.

Patrick Thorne came out too. Seeing what was happening, he grabbed a basket as well. Listening to his aunt and uncle was boring; he’d much rather go for a walk.

The group set off in a grand procession. Wraven had even more mountains than Vessaria—they were everywhere, even in the city proper. Not far from Phoebe Thorne’s house was a small mountain, and some people were growing vegetables on its slopes.

There wasn’t much firewood on the mountain. The ground was pitifully bare; it had all been picked clean. So, Patrick Thorne simply climbed a tree and started snapping off dead branches. Before long, he had filled a basket. Gentry Chapman was incredibly envious. ’If only I knew how to climb trees,’ he thought. ’I’d never have to worry about finding firewood again.’

"Cousin, do you know about postcards?" Tang Xiao’nan asked as she gathered firewood.

Adrian Hawthorne glanced at her with a smile in his eyes. ’This chubby girl really took it to heart after hearing me ask about it just once.’

"I do! Thirty cents for one, or two for fifty cents. They’re really beautiful," Gentry Chapman said, his tone full of envy.

Adrian Hawthorne paused in his work, his expression growing more focused.

"Cousin, where can you buy postcards?" Tang Xiao’nan asked.

"My classmate’s mom sells them. She has a spot near the movie theater. I even helped her sell them once, and she paid me fifty cents," Gentry Chapman said gleefully.

Unfortunately, his father found out, gave him a beating, and forbade him from ever helping sell them again. So, he stopped.

Tang Xiao’nan struggled to contain her excitement. ’Talk about a lucky break!’

"Cousin, do you still sell them now?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Not anymore. My dad won’t let me. He spanked me last time, and it really hurt." Gentry Chapman rubbed his rear. It still felt sore. ’What a shame I can’t earn money anymore.’

"Why won’t Uncle let you sell them?"

"Dad says he’s an official, and his family can’t be seen setting a bad example by violating policy."

"That’s bullshit! He’s incompetent himself, but he won’t let anyone else earn a little extra on the side. Hmph!" Patrick Thorne, who was still up in the tree, suddenly flared up.

He had just overheard his younger uncle and aunt talking and learned that his aunt was having a hard time. She couldn’t even afford meat. The only reason she got to eat meat each year was because his own father helped her out, and his grandparents sent grain from time to time. Otherwise, his aunt and her family would go hungry.

Their lives were already this difficult, yet Brian Chapman still stubbornly clung to his so-called principles. Hmph. No wonder his younger uncle looked down on him.

He looked down on him, too.

’If a man can’t even provide for his own wife and child, how can he even show his face? He might as well just take off his belt and hang himself.’

Gentry Chapman’s face flushed red. He wanted to say something back to Patrick Thorne, but he was too timid and tongue-tied. After struggling for a moment, he still couldn’t get a word out, and his face just grew redder.

Patrick Thorne slid nimbly down the tree and snapped at Gentry Chapman, "Are you stupid? Just sell them in secret from now on, and don’t let your dad find out. You don’t have to listen to everything grown-ups say. You’re ten years old now; you need to have your own mind, got it?"

Gentry Chapman blinked, his mind in turmoil. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. Growing up, all he ever heard was that he had to listen to his father. Gentry was used to being obedient, to listening to his father, his mother, his grandparents, and all his elders...

In short, he just had to be a good, obedient boy.

But now, Patrick Thorne was telling him he should have a mind of his own.

His rational mind told him he shouldn’t listen to his cousin.

But his heart told him that his cousin was right.

He was so conflicted.

In the end, reason won out over emotion.

"Dad would find out. He’s in charge of that sort of thing," Gentry Chapman said woodenly.